Iran's second largest carmaker SAIPA has announced that the company sold more than 2,000 Renault'sSandero hatchback in an hour and a half, according to the company's director for marketing and group sales.
Reza Taqavi added that 1,500 Sandero vehicles would be available for immediate delivery while the rest can be placed on pre-order for delivery by February 2016, Persian Khodro reported.
The marketing director noted that a majority of SAIPA showrooms around the country took part in the offer, with interest coming from a broad mix of locations.
Sandero, which is the global version of the popular Dacia Sandero built in Romania, will be produced by Pars Khodro, a company partly owned by SAIPA.
Currently, a majority of the vehicle's parts are believed to be imported, but previous announcements from the company's executives suggest they plan to indigenize some essential parts.
Sanderoutilizes the same three-cylinder 900 cc turbo-engine found in the new Clio 4 hatchback available in Europe.
Capable of offering a relatively sporty drive from its 66 kW of power and 135 Nm of torque, it can go from standstill to 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 175 km/h. The carbon dioxide emissions rating are 119 g/km.
The new Sandero is a well-specced machine, built with cost and style in mind. From the Bluetooth functionality, MP3 radio with USB, air-conditioning to electric front and rear windows, the car is properly loaded. It even boasts cruise control, which is unheard of in this segment.
Space and practicality cannot be ignored either. Boot space is a best-in-class 292 liters while the large interior can fit four adult occupants.
The price of the vehicle initially is meant to be pegged at 420 million rials for the manual variant ($11,500) and 480 million ($13,700) rials for the automatic gearbox version at current free exchange rates. For down payments on the vehicle, buyers must first deposit 240 million and 270 million respectively.
